Brad Hawkins on Ohio State: Michigan 'won that game for Coach Harbaugh'

Michigan football safety Brad Hawkins played in more games than any Wolverine in history, having used the NCAA’s extra year of eligibility that was granted to all student-athletes who were in school during the 2020 season.

Hawkins, who finished with 60 tackles, three stops for loss, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery, was a major part of Michigan’s resurgent season that included a win over rival Ohio State, a Big Ten championship and an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

The New Jersey native and the rest of Michigan’s leaders, along with a revamped coaching staff under seventh-year head man Jim Harbaugh, began the turnaround process early on in 2021.

“Starting in January in winter workouts, me, [defensive end] Aidan [Hutchinson], [linebacker] Josh [Ross], [quarterback] Cade [McNamara], all the leaders on the team, the captains, we came together and we got this leadership group going on, something that we didn’t do the other years I was there,” Hawkins said on PFF’s Tailgate podcast. “We got a leadership group and met every week, and the younger guys bought in, they listened to us. When we wanted something done, we let it be known, and they did it. There was no fussing, and everybody was on the same page.”

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Hawkins said the veterans knew this Michigan team was ‘different’ from the jump during fall camp, and they were proven right on a cold November day at The Big House, with a win over Ohio State, and while on the stage lifting the Big Ten title trophy the next weekend in Indianapolis.

“We all were saying it before the season started — we could be special this year and this Michigan team was very, very different,” Hawkins said. “We started winning games, stacking days, getting better and we started setting our goals — getting better was the first thing, win the next game, beat Ohio State, win the Big Ten championship, win the national championship.

“All of our goals were right in front of us, and we continued to climb the ladder. I feel like our turning point was when we lost to Michigan State. We came together as a unit that Monday. We had a big meeting that Monday, just players. We all dialed in and told everybody that everything we want is in front of us. Nobody flinched. We continued to attack, attack, attack. We practiced even harder, and we continued to grind out throughout the season.”

And by the time Michigan took on Ohio State, the Wolverines had stacked enough days for the result of the game to finally go in their favor. And the win over the Buckeyes wasn’t just huge for the 2021 team, but it they hope it will turn the tide for years to come.

“Going into Ohio State, I feel like we had our best preparation week that we had all year,” Hawkins said. “Everybody was bought in. Everybody was focused; there were no distractions all year. We went into that game so confident that we knew we were going to win that game.

“After that game, we enjoyed the win, went into the Big Ten championship, dominated, continued to grow, went into the playoffs.

“Things didn’t go the way we wanted them to go, but we were still happy with the season that we had and how we came together — all our fifth-years and seniors — and dominated, putting Michigan back on top, beating Ohio State and set the standard for the younger guys and the guys coming in. When they get older and they’re ready to lead, they know how we ran it, they know how it’s going to be run and that standard for Michigan is going to be set.”

The celebration after the Ohio State win was epic. Hawkins explained that it took him 30 minutes to get fro the Michigan sideline to the tunnel, with fans who rushed the field covering the turf.

A primary motivator for the Wolverines in the rivalry matchup was getting Harbaugh his first win over the Buckeyes in six tries.

“It was an amazing feeling; I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Hawkins said. “Going through those days knowing we finally beat Ohio State, we finally set the standard for those guys, and we finally got it done for Coach Harbaugh.

“We all played for each other, and we played for our head coach, because everybody doubted us going into the game, nobody thought we were going to win the game, nobody thought Coach Harbaugh could get it done. He’s an amazing coach. We all love him as a coach, we all love him as a person. We won that game for Coach Harbaugh, and of course we got it done for ourselves.”

An NFL Draft hopeful, Hawkins, who’s currently in Arizona training with EXOS, will play in the East-West Shrine Bowl Feb. 3 in Las Vegas. He is aiming to show scouts that he’s a versatile piece on the back end of a defense.